Motorcycles
« Previous EntriesI’m Riding the Lightning Now!
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008I spun the motorcycle up to 40 miles an hour today. Yeah, I’m flying now! I best be careful before I break the sound barrier and piss off the neighbors.
Okay, in all seriousness, I’m finally putting in some real seat time after several weeks of storms, rain, trips, and projects, and my comfort level is [...]
The Zen of Motorcycling
Friday, June 20th, 2008My Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructors hammered a phrase home: “You go where you look.”
It reminded me a bit of the old saying “keep your eyes on the prize,” but the difference is you can actually feel the motorcycle maxim at work every time you turn. If you’re not looking at where you want to be, [...]
Born To Be Wild
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008The family sat out on the porch yesterday, and we left the garage door open. The Squirt disappeared, and a few minutes later the Midget came and told me his brother was on my motorcycle. I went to check it out, thinking he’d just strayed a little too close or was fiddling with the grips [...]
Just Like Riding a Bike
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008Daddy’s Little Biker Girl
Originally uploaded by MikeOliveri.
Okay, maybe not quite that easy, but what little I do know about riding a motorcycle did come back to me.
The sun finally showed its shiny face this afternoon, so after a sausage and a burger off the grill I felt the urge to take Eve for a spin. [...]
Meet Eve
Saturday, May 10th, 2008Eve
Originally uploaded by MikeOliveri.
Let the mid-life crisis jokes commence: I bought a bike.
She’s a 1995 Yamaha Virago, a small cruiser with a 250cc engine. I’ve dubbed her Eve after learning what virago meant. Her previous owner took wonderful care of her and she’s got less than 3000 miles on her. Not a bad find at [...]
Two Wheels of Terror
Wednesday, April 30th, 2008I’m giving serious thought to purchasing a motorcycle again. Specifically the Honda Shadow VLX.
The out-of-control gas prices are what made me think about bikes in the first place, and it’s become a stronger argument this summer as prices continue to creep upward. According to this chart, I should expect to get about 50 miles per [...]
They Just Don’t Get It
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008I’m really, really glad I only have one car to pump gas into.
Bush is headed out to Saudi Arabia to beg King Abdullah to reduce oil prices because the US economy is suffering. What makes him think Abdullah — or any of the sheiks or princes, for that matter — is going to give a [...]
Motorpsycho: “I am a leaf on the wind!”
Tuesday, June 5th, 2007Evaluation time. I’m sitting on the bike. 11th in line, watching my classmates pull a sharp turn. Some of them are doing fine, others are struggling. One put her foot down — twice — which would have been an automatic failure on a DMV riding course.
The line is getting shorter. I’m revving my Rebel, warming [...]
Motorpsycho: “Rabbits don’t have a lot of traction.”
Thursday, May 31st, 2007Last week, we learned how to deal with obstacles. At one point, the instructor said if a small animal runs out into the road, your best strategy is to just keep up speed and roll over them just as we would a branch, pothole, or other obstacle. We discussed why, and most thought it was [...]
Motorpsycho: Lean Into It!
Monday, May 28th, 2007Last Monday was my first unsettling experience on the bike.
Okay, it was just a few shades shy of sphincter-clenching terrifying, but I got over it quick.
See, to turn a bike, you have to lean into the turn. You don’t have to lean like the driver of a racebike nearly dragging his knee, but on most [...]